Cloud Computing: explaining the buzz phrase

In a nut-shell cloud computing is a term used for internet based computing where shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand. This method alleviates the need for expertise in, or control over, the technology infrastructure that supports them. This means you do not require expensive high-end server machines on your premises to utilise various productivity resources, along with many other benefits.

An example of the cloud at work is the ability of users to access web-based tool and applications within their browser as if it was installed on their computer.

The term “cloud” is actually used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing that was used to represent the telephone and computer networks.

Commercial cloud offerings need to meet quality of service requirements and include service level agreements. Some of the more well-known cloud service providers include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Dell, HP and IBM among many others.

Key features and benefits of cloud computing are: agility, API, cost, device and location independence, multi-tenancy, reliability, scalability, maintenance and metering.

So let’s look at some of these features in a bit more depth.

Users are able to rapidly and inexpensively re-provision technology resources (agility).

You have more reliability when using multiple redundant sites which is great for business continuity and disaster recovery; complete outages are still sometimes unavoidable but less likely than with isolated systems.

Without the need to install applications on individual computers it is easier to maintain and support as there is one central point for this and all changes and fixes are available to all users instantly.

As with every other platform available along with the positives you also get the issues that arise. Some of these include privacy, compliance, legal, open source, open standards, security, availability and performance, and sustainability and siting.

For instance adoption of the cloud is possibly being delayed over security concerns by many people. Many parts of the public and private sectors are still not at ease with the idea of security based services being handled by outside influences. Yet the mere nature of the cloud set-up requires that these service providers ensure the highest level of security and privacy that can be achieved.

Despite these issues it is widely believed that cloud computing is here to stay and is quite possibly one of the key features for operating in the foreseeable future.

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Look out for Rylurx IT’s cloud hosting service option which will be available soon along with our standard hosting packages.

For more detailed information you can read the Cloud Computing Wikipedia page.